Women are truly peculiar creatures. If a man doesn’t yield to them, they get angry; yet when he does comply, they grow suspicious. Such contradiction.
“Just because everyone else acts that way doesn’t make it right. I stand by what I said – you’re my wife, and protecting you is only natural. There’s nothing more to discuss. As for this talk of divorce… if I should die someday, then you can consider remarrying. Is that acceptable?” His question was utterly serious, not born of petulance or anger.
Jiang Yue suddenly understood. “Your military work… is it dangerous?”
Lu Jingzhou nodded. Their Action Squad consistently suffered the highest casualty rates. Losing a leg or an arm was commonplace, and many died in foreign lands – in rainforests and remote mountains – their bodies never recovered.
Reading something in his eyes, Jiang Yue drew a sharp breath.
A sense of crisis suddenly gripped her. No, she needed to keep earning money. Otherwise, she and her daughter would struggle to survive in these times.
Thinking she was frightened, Lu Jingzhou forced an awkward smile. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve saved some money for you. After I return this time, I’ll send it to you. You can open your own bankbook at the Credit Union. I’ve also brought some cash with me.”
He rummaged through his military pack and produced a stack of money – some in large denominations, some small, along with various ration coupons – handing it all to Jiang Yue.
“Just leave me enough for the train ticket.”
In any era, the sight of cash brings joy.
“You’re giving me all of this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll spend it recklessly? Shouldn’t you give some to your parents?”
“Not afraid. Not giving. It’s all yours.”
Delighted, Jiang Yue was about to count the money when Zheng Xiaoliu arrived with three teenagers.
“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, I’ve brought them to help.”
Jiang Yue quickly stuffed the money into her pocket. Seeing the youthful boys entering the courtyard – all malnourished, short in stature, with dry yellowish hair but clear, bright eyes – she said, “Well… we won’t make you work for free. Fifty cents each, how does that sound?”
Zheng Xiaoliu immediately waved his hands. “We’re just moving some things! No need for payment!” He glanced nervously at Lu Jingzhou, worried Third Uncle would think Third Aunt was being wasteful.
Jiang Yue said seriously, “Let’s be clear about this. Paying for labor is better than owing favors. When your Third Uncle isn’t home, I’ll need help with heavy work, and it’ll be easier to ask you then.”
“Do as your Third Aunt says. You boys go inside and move everything out. Clear all the clutter, and don’t miss any corners.” Lu Jingzhou remained vigilant – who knew what snakes, insects, or rodents might be hiding in the nooks and crannies.
Lu Jingzhou worked meticulously, his physical stamina extraordinary.
Jiang Yue held their daughter, watching him move back and forth, carrying and lifting. The work he accomplished alone surpassed what the four teenagers could do combined.
The clutter consisted of worn-out furniture, missing legs and broken arms.
They didn’t discard anything, instead piling it all in a corner.
The house contained an old bed, but it was damaged too. If it had been intact, it would have been carried off by someone during the Beat the Landlord campaigns.
Lu Jingzhou had Zheng Xiaoliu borrow tools, and after some hammering and fixing, the bed wasn’t exactly good as new, but at least it was serviceable and wouldn’t wobble.
Years of accumulated dust were cleared from both rooms, naturally including the roof beams.
Lu Lao Er and his wife also came to help.
Lu Lao Er wanted to say something to ease the tension – he truly didn’t want to sever relations with Third Son – but Lu Jingzhou kept his head down working, completely ignoring him.
Lu Lao Er felt awkward after being snubbed and only went to help clean the yard when urged by Lu Er Sao.
Lu Er Sao, on the other hand, rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen. “Sister-in-law, let me help you tidy up the kitchen! There’s no time today, but we’ll definitely need to start cooking tomorrow. Pots, pans, bowls, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar—all of it has to be bought, and it’ll cost quite a bit!”
Mentioning cooking actually made Jiang Yue happy. Now that they were living on their own, she had endless supplies of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar in her Space Supermarket. She didn’t have to worry at all—she just needed to occasionally pretend to go shopping for supplies.
“Let’s make do for today, Sister-in-law. Thank you for your help.”
Lu Er Sao smiled wryly. “No need for thanks. In the future, if you need anything, just let me know. There’s still some time before the wheat harvest, and in about half a month, the men in our village will be off repairing the river embankment. I won’t have much to do then anyway.”
The nearby river embankment needed repairs every year—deepening, widening, and dredging. Without machinery at the time, efficiency was low. Only during the slack farming season, before the rainy season, would the riverbed be cleared. The Commune and Brigade would organize labor, dividing the work into sections assigned to households—a kind of collective activity.
The scene at the embankment repairs was spectacular. Standing on the dyke, you could see the riverbed filled with people.
Some were responsible for digging, others for carrying soil—each with their own role.
Lu Er Sao’s underlying meaning was simple: “I still want to earn money from you.”
That was all.
Jiang Yue wasn’t foolish. If money could solve a problem, she had no intention of exhausting herself with hard labor.
“I’ll remember what you said, Sister-in-law.”
Lu Er Sao chatted a bit more about the Lu family.
After they left, Old Man Lu flew into a rage again. Everyone except Lu Dabao was scolded by him, and in the end, he even kicked Mother Lu, taking his anger out on her.
Mother Lu just cried, lamenting the family’s misfortune and her own bitter fate.
It was all the same old story.
The kitchen had an Earthen Stove, which was a bit damaged but hadn’t collapsed.
The Earthen Stoves in the Huai River region were different from those in the north or the south.
It was a Two-Hole Stove, with the fire chamber at the back. Cooking required running back and forth between the front and back.
If someone helped tend the fire, they’d burn straw, which burned quickly—a bundle would vanish in the blink of an eye, requiring constant replenishment.
Adding straw was a skill in itself. Add too much too quickly, and the fire would rage, burning the food. Add too little, and the fire would be inconsistent, flaring up and dying down.
If no one was available to tend the fire, it was better to burn firewood—once added, it could be left alone.
Lu Er Sao first gathered some dry grass to light the stove fire, wanting to test if the flue was clear. Instead, she filled the room with smoke, choking everyone.
Jiang Yue had already grabbed Little Bean Sprout and run outside. Lu Er Sao emerged covered in soot, coughing. “Cough, cough! Both the top and bottom are blocked. I’ll go outside to clear the ash from the stove chamber. Third Son, you’ll have to handle the top.”
Lu Jingzhou had just finished repairing the bed. Hearing this, he looked up at the kitchen roof.
In those days, having money didn’t guarantee you could buy or rent a house. Even if they took money to the town or county to rent a place, the procedures were unusually complicated, and there was no certainty of success, given the strict controls.
So, no matter how dilapidated this small courtyard was, they had to make do.
Lu Lao Er glanced at the kitchen roof and waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t you go up there. With your weight, one step and the roof would be gone. Xiao Liu Zi, you go. Be careful—don’t walk in the middle. The chimney has collapsed a section up top; just remove it.”
The main room was tidied up first, the bed was set in place, and the bedding they brought was laid out with Lu Er Sao’s help.
Many hands make light work. After a busy half day, by three in the afternoon, they finally had a place to sleep for the night.
Although the earthen stove was still leaking smoke, they made do with it for now. Lu Jingzhou would repair it tomorrow.
The second son and his wife had left long ago. Jiang Yue took out three yuan and handed it to Zheng Xiaoliu, asking him to distribute it.
After washing his hands in the pond by the door, Lu Jingzhou went to Jiang Yue for money, borrowed a bicycle from the Brigade leader, and hurried off to Zhen Gongshe.